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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1298, 20 March 1883, Page 2

This morning an extraordinary meeting of the shareholders of the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company will be held, to consider the special business, of which due notification by circular was given lately by Mr. C. A. DeLautour, the Managing Director. “The first year of the Company’s existence,” says Mr. DeLautour, “ having “ proved conclusively the ease with which “ the Native title can be extinguished and “ changed into laud transfer title by the “ machinery which the association of Euro- “ peans and Maoris offer, it is proposed to “ carry on operations on an enlarged scale, “ and with increased vigor.” While many will be inclined to accept the opening part of the above plausible extract from Mr. De Lautour’s circular, cum grano salts, all will unanimously concur in the prospect of the Company at last awakening to the fact that “ increased vigor” is essential. If there is anything besides capital, business tact, and a straightforward open manner of doing business which the Company requires, we

unhesitatingly pronounce that to be “ in- > “ creased vigor,” Mr DeLautour, this I morning, will have an opportunity of point- j ing out to the shareholders the areas j of land tho Company has acquired , under the Land ’Transfer Act. And ’ as he admits in his circular that j “increased financial strength,” is necessary to the Company’s well-being, doubtless he will make known to anxious shareholders when the next lot of the Company’s lands will be put into the market. There seems to be an impression among the general public that the proposed changes to be discussed toi day, in the constitution of the Company will culminate in the Hon. Dr. Pollen carrying i ' its “revered ashes” to Auckland, and that ; ; practically the business of to-day's meeting ! ! is tn pronounce the last solemn rites for the ' ! dead over the now moribund Association . i known familiarly as the East (Joast Laud | i Company. While we may restrain ourselves ! from shedding a tear over its demise, wc ; think that the shareholders, and especially those residing in this locality, who were hi- ‘ duced to join the Company by the flaming prospect put forth months ago of the sale of i the Whataupoko and other lands in this dis- ; trict, have a right to learn at to-day’s meet- | ing when those lands will be offered to the : public. Or if the Company has u title to those lands. Doubtless Mr. DeLautour, ' will paint in roseate hues, fh? ease with which the Company have by “ the association of Europeans ami Maoris” changed the title of Whataupoko into a Land Transfer Title ; and also tell what the Europeans who did uof associate with them, thought of the metamorphosis. For our own part we wish wc could congratulate the Company upon the success that has ati tended its labors. So far the first and only ' sale of any of the Company’s property did ■ not take place until after repeated disappoint- ; ment. This month, according to public advertisement, that portion of Whataupoko opI posite the township and connected with Gis- | borne by the bridge was to be offered for sale iby public competition. Will the sale take j place ? Does the Company own the land ? Have they a complete title to it ? if not, • where is tho hitch ? These are questions to ’ which the shareholders have a right to get ' an answer to-day, and no doubt, satisfactory i replies will be given to those persons making ; the enquiry. By placing this land into the : market, by the Company, or by any one, no ; matter whom, a great public good would be ; done, and an important contribution made ;in tho furtherance of settlement. Notwith- ■ standing the present scarcity of money, that i the land in question would find ready pur- ; chasers, and at a high figure there can be no i doubt. That such excellent land which | could be so quickly put to proper use and ■ rendered productive, should be allowed to ■ lie so long idle, is a drawback and misforI tune to Poverty Bay. Here is an outlet ' for the Company to exercise its “ increased : vigor” on. Whoever be at the helm in future, i be he the Hon. Dr. Pollen or Mr. C. A. DeLautour, let not the masterly inactivity of the past prevail. In the interests of the shareholders, and in the interests of the district, which to the residents here is of paramount importance, no longer delay than is absolutely necessary should occur in settling the titles, and putting the land in the market. We hope the shareholders to-day will bestir themselves.